Centre tightens noose around Italian envoy in ‘marines case’

Delhi: In the case regarding to killing of two fishermen by two Italian Marines here Italian evnvoy to India Daniele Mancini has appeared before the Supreme Court to explain why he should not be prosecuted for contempt of court for not abiding by his undertaking to bring back two Italian marines to face trial in Kerala fishermen killing case.

Earlier, a bench of Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Justices Anil R Dave and Vikaramjit Sen has directed Mr Mancini not to leave the country without prior permission of the court.

The two marines — Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone — were permitted by the apex court to go to Italy for four weeks to participate in the general elections in Italy and March 22 was fixed as the deadline for their return.

The Italian government, however, declined to send the two marines to India to face trial for killing two fishermen.

The government alerted all the airport authorities to ensure that Mr Mancini does not leave India.

The matter is listed tomorrow as item number one before the bench of Justice Kabir.

The apex court had also issued contempt notice to the government of Italy and the two marines.

Senior counsel Harish Salve has withdrawn from the case and refused to appear for the Italian government in the case after this act of betrayal of trust.

According to the law of the land and the Vienna Convention, once a diplomat initiates court proceedings in a foreign country his diplomatic immunity is lost.

Mr Mancini can escape prosecution for contempt of Supreme Court only if the two marines come back to India till March 22